THE EASTER GOSPEL (Read by Elizabeth Parker)
Mark 16: 1-7
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James,
and Salome brought spices so that they might go and anoint him.
Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came
to the tomb.
They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from
the entrance to the tomb?”
When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was
very large.
On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side,
clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed.
He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the
crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they
laid him.
But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see him, as he told you.’”
Alleluia! The Lord is risen!
R/: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
EASTER INTROIT: Sing, choirs of heaven (Sung by the Choir of the Old Parish Church)
From earliest times Christians have gathered at Easter to
recall the story of God’s saving work, from creation
through to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
However, the Easter Liturgy is not merely a presentation
of God’s work. It is meant to be a real experience of new
life for the worshipper, a passing from darkness to light
which offers hope to all the faithful.
Earlier, our choir sang the Exultet, the ancient hymn of
triumph and rejoicing. And the Easter Gospel was
proclaimed. Welcome to this Easter service - it deserves
all the joy and splendour that the church can find.
Around the world, and across the years, Christians have
been and are saying “Alleluia! The Lord is Risen!
and those around have responded “He is Risen
indeed! Alleluia!”
Easter Day
HYMN: Jesus Christ is risen today
PRAYER
Alleluia. The risen Christ is with us.
Death is conquered! Sin’s power is broken.
Praise to you, Conquering God!
We have seen your glory.
And we are yours!
We are yours, all yours, blessed Triune God,
all our lives, all our thanks, all our praise,
we give it all to you, with all our bodies, and minds, and voices.
Yours the blessing, yours the praise,
from the unimaginable silence before creation,
beyond the farthest reaches of time and space our instruments
may ever find,
from infinity to infinity, everlasting to everlasting,
you are God, boundless in love and power.
What are we that you should notice us?
What are we that you should love us?
What are we what you should call us into covenant with you,
a covenant we continually broke,
and you continuously sustained.
How can we but praise you,
joining our voices with the song of angels and saints,
seraphim and martyrs,
strangers and family in every generation:
How can we but welcome you among us?
Alleluia. The risen Christ is with us.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
Psalm 118: 1,2, 16,17,22 & 23
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R/: Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.”
R/: Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R/: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Hymn: This joyful Eastertide
REFLECTION
PRAYER
O Lord Jesus Christ, who upon this day did conquer death and rise
from the dead,
and who are alive for ever more, help us never to forget your Risen
Presence forever with us.
Help us to remember,
That you are with us in every time of perplexity to guide and to
direct;
That you are with us in every time of sorrow to comfort and console;
That you are with us in every time of temptation to strengthen and
to inspire;
That you are with us in every time of loneliness to cheer and
befriend;
That you are with us even in death to bring us to the glory of your
side.
Make us to be certain that there is nothing in time or in eternity
which can separate us from you,
so that in your presence we may meet life with gallantry and death
without fear.
We remember before God those who have died, and especially on
this day we remember the victims of Covid 19, those who grieve for
them, and those who are struggling to recover.
You turn our darkness into light, in your light we shall see light. May
the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of
God, rest in peace and rise in glory.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. AMEN
HYMN: Thine be the glory
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
Christ was raised from the dead
by the glorious power of the Father.
Set out, then, on a new life with Christ.
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you this Easter season,
and in all the days to come.
AMEN
Alleluia! The Lord is risen!
R/: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Thank you everyone for a lovely Easter Day service. I enjoyed it so much.
An excellent Easter service. Well done and a happy Easter to you all.
Lovely Easter service following a week of superb services.
A good service . Glad to have been able to have joined it
Thank you so much for all the services, such a comfort through the whole week when we can not be together.
Thank you too for such a beautifully uplifting Easter Sunday service. Everyone did so well but especially nice to have Isabelle back with us.
Happy Easter everyone.
A lovely service for Easter Day and beautiful readings by Elizabeth and Isabelle.
Easter blessings to all x
Nice service. Very comforting